Democratic state lawmakers spoke out Monday morning against the confusion left by a new Florida law that will dissolve six special districts in the state, including the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which allows Walt Disney World to self-govern.

Authorities believe Miya Marcano was killed in her own apartment by an infatuated 27-year-old maintenance employee who had access to a master key.

RELATED: State clears backlog of thousands of rape kits | Florida nearly caught up on rape kit backlogAd“We’re talking about women that spent years and years and years losing sleep literally. When Gail’s kit was finally tested, DNA evidence identified her offender as a serial rapist who was already in prison. The bill named after her would make sure that victims of sexual assault can track the status of their rape kits in real time. Gail’s Law wouldn’t be the first reform made to Florida’s rape kit system. Slosberg said Gail’s Law would help identify any gaps or loopholes lurking in the system.

Sponsors argue the bill makes sure employees have the final say on their money, but unions say it’s an effort to hurt them. Sponsor Ray Rodrigues wants those union members to know they have alternatives. “This bill is just another attempt at union-busting,” said State Senator Victor Torres. “We think there should be a signed authorization, signed by the employer before the employee’s pay is reduced,” said Rodrigues. If the bill becomes law, public sector unions would not be allowed to ask anyone why they dropped their membership.

On Monday, Florida state senators spent an hour behind closed doors for a classified security briefing. “And our Senate President was dead serious when he said they would keep us safe, and I felt very good walking out of that security briefing,” said State Senator Janet Cruz. State Senator Linda Stewart said the security briefing included tips for when senators were not in the Capitol as well. Lawmakers themselves won’t be at the Capitol over the weekend, nor next week, when the chances of violent protests are greatest. Flags at the State Capitol are currently at half staff in honor of the two officers who died as a result of last week’s protest at the U.S. Capitol.

Interestingly, as Walt Disney World prepares to reopen this weekend, its home county of Osceola is showing the highest unemployment rate in the state at 37 percent. Ron DeSantis and US Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia made it clear that opening schools this fall isnt just about learning gaps but unemployment as well. Scalia hopes opening schools will give people a place to send their kids, so they can go back to work. If we dont get our schools open, it will be that much harder for working adult women who are facing a higher unemployment rate to get back to work, he said. Many will exhaust all of their unemployment benefits at the end of July, raising the question: whats next?

The bravery of one survivor was the driving force behind a new law that has removed the statute of limitations for sexual battery on a minor. These children are traumatized by this, said state Rep. Scott Plakon, who co-sponsored the new law bearing Donnas name. The statute of limitations for such crimes varied wildly depending on the age of the victim and the aggressor. That is the message to the offender that, that child is going to always have the right to come after them, Hedrick said. Accusations will still need to be backed by evidence, but it will provide some hope for justice for future victims.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A law that eliminates the statute of limitations for sexual assault against minors that Florida’s Legislature earlier this year was signed into law by Gov. State Rep. Tracie Davis (D-Jacksonville) sponsored the bill in the House and Sen. Linda Stewart (D-Orlando) was the bill’s Senate sponsor. “Finally, our most vulnerable will have the law on their side.”Stewart called this a win for victims of abuse. “This is a major win for survivors and shows the true power of speaking out and sharing your story. “Over the years, time limitations have continued to expand for victims, but the time has finally come for them to be removed altogether for minors.

That’s good news for the state’s economy, but recent increases in COVID-19 cases have some warning visitors to use caution before planning that next vacation. As part of Phase Two, theme parks can operate at 50% capacity. Universal opened at 35% capacity on Friday, and Disney won’t begin opening its parks until July. But Orlando State Sen. Linda Stewart is urging caution before racing off to the theme parks. If you’d like to see the COVID-19 tourism data collected by Visit Florida for yourself, click here.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Millions of dollars in Florida Forever land-conservation funds would be tied to sea-level rise and hurricane recovery under a measure moving forward in the Florida Senate. Another part of the bill would include wildlife crossings as land eligible for purchasing through Florida Forever. The current year’s budget has $33 million for Florida Forever. David Cullen, a lobbyist for Sierra Club Florida, cautioned against opening Florida Forever money for land acquisition tied to three proposed toll-road projects or separately “skewing” the Acquisition and Restoration Council land-selection process. That proposal (SB 7016) also would set up a nine-member Sea-Level Rise Task Force which would have until Jan. 1, 2021 to reach baseline projections on anticipated sea-level rise and flooding impacts along Florida’s coastline.

The proposal (SB 312), tied to a long-running controversy about the state's "assignment of benefits" insurance laws, would also ban repair shops from compensating people to solicit for insurance claims. She added that the measure will help larger auto-glass companies, which already have a monopoly. Lawmakers during the 2019 revamped assignment of benefits for claims dealing with homeowners-insurance but did not make changes related to windshield repairs. The homeowners-insurance changes, in part, limited attorney fees in AOB lawsuits filed by contractors against insurance companies. Susanne Murphy, deputy commissioner of property and casualty at the state Office of Insurance Regulation, told the Senate committee that hurricane-driven increases in the cost of reinsurance -- insurance for insurance companies -- may "mask" anticipated assignment of benefits savings.

Getty ImagesTALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Five years ago, 75 percent of Florida voters approved setting money aside for land conservation and acquisition, but since its passage lawmakers have never fully funded Florida Forever. Environmental groups used the fifth anniversary of the passing Monday to call on lawmakers to dedicate $100 million to Florida Forever going forward. State Senator Linda Stewart is sponsoring a bill that would guarantee $100 million to Florida Forever and make the funding reoccurring. Environmentalists like Aliki Moncrief with the Florida Conservation Voters said overall, she's optimistic going into the 2020 session. The Governor requested $100 million for Florida Forever this past Legislative session.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - A Senate criminal justice panel on Tuesday pushed forward a bill that would remove time restrictions for prosecuting sexual-assault cases where victims are younger than 18. But a big change to the proposal, approved unanimously by the Senate Criminal Justice Committee, would apply the elimination of the statute of limitations to crimes committed on or after July 1, 2020. The bill (SB 170) originally would have applied to the cases of victims who were raped or sexually assaulted before that date. She said the bill now "clarifies the exact beginning of this bill, to make sure that nobody gets grandfathered in." Three rape victims urged the Senate panel to scrap the statute of limitations.

Sen. Linda Stewart, a Democrat from Orlando, filed a measure (SB 170) intended to end the three-year window for minors aged 16 and 17 to report a sex battery. Epstein, 66, was found dead of an apparent suicide in his cell in a federal jail in New York on Aug. 10. The wealthy financier was facing sex-trafficking charges involving minors in Florida and New York. The politically connected Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to two state prostitution charges in Florida, including procuring a minor for sex. Similar legislation (HB 69) has been filed this year in the House by Jacksonville Democrat Tracie Davis and Longwood Republican Scott Plakon.